Oh my goodness, so it’s been way too long since I’ve updated my blog! I get so worried that every blog post has to be perfect, when in reality I need to just write so here goes…

(I still will update with my training posts, but for now, I am going to talk about NYC!) 🙂

The start of day 1! Obviously I was looking forward to this trip. I love to travel, and I love weekends that I get to be surrounded by people from all walks of life coming together for one event. I have previously been to NYC twice, once on a personal trip and once on a band trip. I have enjoyed my time in NYC in my past two visits, but it was never a place I loved…until this trip.

Early morning flight!Hello, NYC!

While I was happy to be in NYC, shortly after taking this pic I found out that my luggage was not in NYC with me. Luckily, I packed all of my running gear in my carry-on, so I wasn’t too stressed. (And David helped me track everything while I was out enjoying NYC!)

After taking care of all the paperwork for lost luggage, I was ready to meet my friend, Deanna, at the hotel so we could get to the expo! I used Uber for the first time and then Deanna and I made our way to the expo! (BTW, it was super nice getting to travel with a native New Yorker!)

Subway selfie!We have ARRIVED!Deanna picking up her FIRST MARATHON bib!

Of course I was really excited for this opportunity to run the NYC Marathon, but I was also extremely happy for Deanna as she was running her FIRST full marathon! Bib pick-up was very easy! Since we were with Team for Kids, we walked right up and got our bibs. This was the first marathon expo where I didn’t feel like I was going to throw-up the entire time because of nerves. At the time I was worried that I wasn’t excited, or maybe since we went to the expo on Thursday instead of the day before it hadn’t hit me yet, but as the weekend went on, I realized I was just confident in my training, and finally understood that whatever happens on race day, happens. I accomplished 18 weeks of training and raised money for an incredible organization…no matter my finishing time, I felt like I had made a difference!

All SMILES all weekend!Expo goodies!

After getting back to the hotel, Deanna and I went out for dinner at a local diner. I was already feeling the NYC love.